Latest news with #BidenBorderCrisis
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chaos erupts at House hearing on NGOs' role in fueling Biden's border crisis
The House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the role of NGOs in the ongoing US border crisis has once again come to a standstill. Titled 'An Inside Job: How NGOs Facilitated the Biden Border Crisis,' the session aimed to investigate whether certain nonprofit organizations have supported or enabled unlawful immigration. Tensions flared as lawmakers clashed over accusations, with Republicans alleging collusion and Democrats calling it a political stunt. The hearing remains highly contentious. Show more Show less
Economic Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Chaos erupts at House hearing on NGOs' role in fueling Biden's border crisis
The House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the role of NGOs in the ongoing US border crisis has once again come to a standstill. Titled 'An Inside Job: How NGOs Facilitated the Biden Border Crisis,' the session aimed to investigate whether certain nonprofit organizations have supported or enabled unlawful immigration. Tensions flared as lawmakers clashed over accusations, with Republicans alleging collusion and Democrats calling it a political stunt. The hearing remains highly contentious. Show more 08:20 10:58 10:55 10:38 03:11 03:19 07:08 05:19 03:29 02:47 03:05 04:01 08:19 12:02 08:10 10:11 23:38 12:43 12:00 09:45 15:24 12:27 13:00 08:17 02:16 03:14 05:41 03:17 03:24 03:32 10:23
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House Democrats visit El Salvador in hopes of returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia to U.S.
A group of House Democrats flew to El Salvador on Sunday to push for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly removed from the United States last month to a maximum-security prison. Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) led the effort. They were joined by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) and Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.). President Trump has refused to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. — despite a Supreme Court order to "facilitate" his return — arguing he has no authority to do so. The Abrego Garcia case has become a focal point in the debate around immigration and limits to executive authority. Trump has framed the Abrego Garcia case as an immigration issue, while critics say the real issue is upholding the Constitution and the right to due process. "Trump is defying a Supreme Court order to bring Kilmar home," Garcia said Sunday just before departing Washington for El Salvador. "We're there to obviously demand his release and to continue the pressure on the administration." Read more: Supreme Court temporarily halts more Venezuelan detainee removals under Alien Enemies Act Democrats had hoped to organize a congressional delegation to visit Abrego Garcia. Trips that are organized in an official capacity grant legislators more security and resources. On Tuesday, Garcia and Frost sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) requesting authorization to fund an official visit to the Terrorism Confinement Center, also called CECOT, a mega-prison that can hold 40,000 people. "A Congressional delegation would allow Committee Members to conduct a welfare check on Mr. Abrego Garcia, as well as others held at CECOT, such as Andry José Hernandez — a 30-year-old LGBTQ makeup artist who passed a 'credible fear' interview during his legal asylum process before being deported,' the lawmakers wrote. "In addition, congressional oversight is warranted following President Trump's recent remarks in which he expressed a desire to send 'homegrown criminals'—including U.S. citizens—to this facility." Comer denied the request Friday, stating in a letter that he would not "approve a single dime of taxpayer funds" for such a trip. "It is absurd that you both displayed active hostility for over two years toward the Committee's oversight of the Biden Border Crisis and the consequences of millions of illegal aliens entering the country," Comer wrote, "yet now, you are seeking travel at Committee expense to meet with foreign gang members." House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) denied a similar request from Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.). But House Republicans were granted official travel to El Salvador last week. Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Riley Moore (R-W. Va.) shared photos on X of themselves at the prison. Garcia called Comer's denial "shameful" given the approvals for Republican members. He said his trip — which is being personally funded by Garcia and the other legislators — would include a meeting with officials at the U.S. Embassy, local advocates who have been demanding the release of Abrego Garcia, and his legal team. Read more: Better to leave with something: More immigrants opt to self-deport rather than face arrest Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was the first U.S. legislator to meet with Abrego Garcia. Van Hollen returned Friday from a three-day trip to El Salvador to push for his release, saying the case is about far more than one man. "'It's about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States," Van Hollen said. Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia told him he had been moved from CECOT to a detention center with better conditions. His status since Van Hollen left is unknown. Garcia said his trip continues the groundwork that Van Hollen laid. Abrego Garcia, who is from El Salvador, lived legally in Maryland. A 2019 immigration judge's order prohibited his removal to El Salvador. But he was removed March 15 in what Immigration and Customs Enforcement acknowledged was an "administrative error." White House officials allege that he is a member of MS-13, though he has not been charged with gang-related crimes. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
House Democrats visit El Salvador in hopes of returning Kilmar Abrego Garcia to U.S.
WASHINGTON — A group of House Democrats flew to El Salvador on Sunday to push for the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly removed from the United States last month to a maximum-security prison. Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) led the effort. They were joined by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) and Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.). President Trump has refused to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. — despite a Supreme Court order to 'facilitate' his return — arguing he has no authority to do so. The Abrego Garcia case has become a focal point in the debate around immigration and limits to executive authority. Trump has framed the Abrego Garcia case as an immigration issue, while critics say the real issue is upholding the Constitution and the right to due process. 'Trump is defying a Supreme Court order to bring Kilmar home,' Garcia said Sunday just before departing Washington for El Salvador. 'We're there to obviously demand his release and to continue the pressure on the administration.' Democrats had hoped to organize a congressional delegation to visit Abrego Garcia. Trips that are organized in an official capacity grant legislators more security and resources. On Tuesday, Garcia and Frost sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) requesting authorization to fund an official visit to the Terrorism Confinement Center, also called CECOT, a mega-prison that can hold 40,000 people. 'A Congressional delegation would allow Committee Members to conduct a welfare check on Mr. Abrego Garcia, as well as others held at CECOT, such as Andry José Hernandez — a 30-year-old LGBTQ makeup artist who passed a 'credible fear' interview during his legal asylum process before being deported,' the lawmakers wrote. 'In addition, congressional oversight is warranted following President Trump's recent remarks in which he expressed a desire to send 'homegrown criminals'—including U.S. citizens—to this facility.' Comer denied the request Friday, stating in a letter that he would not 'approve a single dime of taxpayer funds' for such a trip. 'It is absurd that you both displayed active hostility for over two years toward the Committee's oversight of the Biden Border Crisis and the consequences of millions of illegal aliens entering the country,' Comer wrote, 'yet now, you are seeking travel at Committee expense to meet with foreign gang members.' House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) denied a similar request from Rep. Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.). But House Republicans were granted official travel to El Salvador last week. Reps. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Riley Moore (R-W. Va.) shared photos on X of themselves at the prison. Garcia called Comer's denial 'shameful' given the approvals for Republican members. He said his trip — which is being personally funded by Garcia and the other legislators — would include a meeting with officials at the U.S. Embassy, local advocates who have been demanding the release of Abrego Garcia, and his legal team. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was the first U.S. legislator to meet with Abrego Garcia. Van Hollen returned Friday from a three-day trip to El Salvador to push for his release, saying the case is about far more than one man. ''It's about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States,' Van Hollen said. Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia told him he had been moved from CECOT to a detention center with better conditions. His status since Van Hollen left is unknown. Garcia said his trip continues the groundwork that Van Hollen laid. Abrego Garcia, who is from El Salvador, lived legally in Maryland. A 2019 immigration judge's order prohibited his removal to El Salvador. But he was removed March 15 in what Immigration and Customs Enforcement acknowledged was an 'administrative error.' White House officials allege that he is a member of MS-13, though he has not been charged with gang-related crimes.
Miami Herald
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
House GOP blocks Democrat delegation visit to deportee in El Salvador
April 19 (UPI) -- The Republican House Oversight Committee chairman has denied requests by two Democrats to check on a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador, though the GOP has sent their own delegations to tour notorious prison he is at. Rep. James Comer, of Kentucky, sent letters to two House members telling them they can "spend your own money" to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported on March 15. Robert Garcia of California and Maxwell Frost of Florida wrote to Comer on Tuesday "requesting authorization" for an official trip. They said also want to check on others held there and invited Republicans to make the trip to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca. The congressmen sought Congressional Member Delegations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention site. The Democrats note official trips afford them more oversight and security resources. "If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money," Comer wrote Friday in a letter obtained by Axios. "But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested." Comer accused Abrego Garcia of being an MS-13 gang member, though the government has not given proof of his membership. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration must "facilitate" his return to Maryland because he wasn't given due process before being deported. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Oregon, also plans to travel to El Salvador to demand the release of him. Dexter, a member of committees on land resources and veterans affairs, didn't disclose whether she was paying for the trip. "A legal U.S. resident has had his due process rights ripped away and is now being held indefinitely in a foreign prison," Dexter said in a news release Friday. "This is not just one family's nightmare; it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us. I will travel to El Salvador to confront this crisis head on. Our constitutional rights are on the line." Earlier, House Homeland Security Committee chairman Mark Green of Tennessee refused a similar request from Delia Ramirez of Illinois. Republicans sent their own delegation to El Salvador earlier this week, led by Jason Smith, of Missouri, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. At least seven House Republicans were present on the trip, according to a photo posted to X by the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 26 also toured the Terrorism Confinement Center, where the Trump administration is paying El Salvador to house deportees. In the letter, Comer wrote that Garcia and Frost "displayed active hostility for over two years toward the Committee's oversight of the Biden Border Crisis and the consequences of millions of illegal aliens entering the country, yet now, you are seeking travel at Committee expense to meet with foreign gang members." U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat in Maryland, made his own trip to El Salvador this week. After initially being denied by the President Nayib Bukele on Thursday, he met with his constitutent at a hotel. Van Hollen said he was informed by Abrego Garcia he had been moved nine days earlier to another prison about 39 miles away in Santa Ana. Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, has also said that he wants to go to El Salvador. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
